December 22, 2004

Australian Gene Markers for Beef Cattle

Australian cattle producers are now in a position to use more genetic markers to test for the ability of beef cattle to produce marbled meat.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Cattle and Beef Quality, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and CSIRO today licensed a new marker to Genetic Solutions, which has been combined in a new multi-marker test. This test also includes another previously licensed marker and is today commercially available as GeneSTAR Feedlot.

This three-gene test further enhances the ability of cattle producers and lot feeders to predict the genetic merit of their animals.

Research conducted by Dr Bill Barendse and his group at CSIRO Livestock Industries in the CRC for Cattle and Beef Quality, with support from MLA, has led to the discovery of gene markers for marbling and tenderness over the past seven years.